Like I have said before, I firmly consider myself a chocolate enthusiast. Whenever I have a craving, it's usually for something sweet, rich, and chocolatey. But luckily: chocolate isn't all that bad - when you eat it the RIGHT way!

Cacao powder, the purest form of chocolate you can eat, is LOADED with antioxidants, fiber, and is even a natural mood booster (no surprise there).

But wait: what's the difference between CACAO powder and regular COCOA powder?

Cocoa powder is simply the heated form of cacao powder that is most commonly seen in the grocery store baking aisles. Cocoa powder actually STILL retains high levels of antioxidants and is still very good for you if you buy the 100% natural kind without any added sugars, milk fats, or oils.

The cacao powder in this recipe can easily be substituted with 100% natural cocoa powder for similar macronutrients and flavor.

I mixed in 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs after this oatmeal was finished cooking to give it an extra chocolatey flavor. Cacao nibs are chopped up pieces of the all natural cacao bean and are very bitter when eaten alone, but when you mix them in to a recipe like this brownie oatmeal, they act similar to chocolate chips. I love to toss them on top of a bowl of oats or use them to put the finishing touches on a smoothie. Since cacao nibs are the most natural form of chocolate, they do not contain and added sugars or fats like regular chocolate chips would and they are 100% plant based.

These Low Sugar Melted Brownie Oats definitely live up to their name and only have one and a half grams of sugar in the ENTIRE recipe, making them the perfect healthy breakfast option. I love starting my day with a big, hearty bowl of oats like this because it keeps me full and satisfied all morning long! I threw in half a scoop of Unico Nutrition protein powder for an extra boost of protein. You can either use vanilla or chocolate flavored powder.